Tesla CEO Elon Musk has thrown out another interesting product idea, asking Twitter if Tesla should make a “highly configurable Robovan.”
The idea would presumably be a step up from the “electric tradie van” that was suggested in 2018 by a follower, to which Musk cautiously flagged with an “OK” and the idea that it could be possible if some using van sliders (basically bodies without powertrains) in collaboration with a partner such as Daimler.
Musk’s tweet on Friday morning (Australian time) said, “Maybe Tesla should make a highly configurable Robovan for people & cargo?”
Maybe Tesla should make a highly configurable Robovan for people & cargo?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022
One quick respondent replied, “duuude. that would be the coolest thing to take on a camping / glamping trip.”
Musk answered: “Maybe with an optional solar power canopy that extends both sides of the van, tripling roof area.”
Maybe with an optional solar power canopy that extends both sides of the van, tripling roof area
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022
The comments come as images emerged recently of a solar-powered “range-extending” trailer developed by Tesla on show at an ideas expo in Germany, as reported by The Driven on Tuesday.
Another followed shared this image with Musk, saying, “Or something like that.”
“Pretty much. A van would have more roof height, so you could stand or sit under it for shade,” replied Musk.
Pretty much. A van would have more roof height, so you could stand or sit under it for shade.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022
Whether or not Musk is serious about the Robovan idea, it would take several or many years to come to fruition. Tesla already has a number of projects on its plate, including bringing the Cybertruck, Semi and Roadster into production.
But it would fulfil Musk’s “Master Plan, Part Deux” statement of 2016, in which he said “high passenger-density transport” was a priority for the decarbonisation of transport. In fact, at the time he said: “Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year.”
It can’t be ignored that Musk’s “next year” is often on what is known as “Elon time”… As Musk noted in 2018, Model Y was on the top of its list to bring to market and even that has only been made available to order in Australia, some two years after its launch in the US.
He did, however, give the thumbs up to one design idea for such a van:
Not bad!
It is high time that the future looked like the future.
Same goes for fashion.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.